Young Player Knows He’ll Improve With Mr. Benitez Guiding Him

Written by Dr. Ed Harrison

12:49pm Thursday, April 27th, 2017

Commented 19 times

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Players who play in central defense sometimes get their initial first team experience as full-backs, since mistakes made on the flanks are usually less costly than those made in the middle of the defense.

But 23 year-old Jamaal Lascelles has been a starter for Newcastle all season and he’s played some very good games, but he’s also had a few dodgy moments as the former Nottingham Forest defender will attest to.

But Rafa Benitez has huge confidence in this player, who three years or so ago looked like was a future England International.

He’s played for all the England Youth sides from U18 through U21.

Rafa Benitez and Jamaal Lascelles in training Once Rafa has coached him for another year or two that promise may be fulfilled.

One of the great things about Jamaal is his attitude – he’s a positive lad who wants to improve as much as he can – and he listens intently to everything Rafa tells him.

In fact Ciaran Clark, our other starter in central defense, has had a stellar season showing his best form in years and we always thought Ciaran was a classy player at Aston Villa.

This is what Jamaal Lascelles has said in the Chronicle today:

“I am still young, still 23. I still have a lot to improve on.” “I know that, everybody knows that, the manager knows that.”

“But I am a listener and a learner. I will always work hard.” “With a great manager like Rafa Benitez, I am sure I will improve.”

“I want to help take this massive club as high as we possibly can.” “That’s our goal. The first one of the week was to win and get promoted against Preston.”

“We’ve done that, now we are going to Cardiff to put pressure on Brighton to get first place.” “It’s going to be tough and we are relying on what they do.”

“But at the same time we are going to prepare on our game and what we can do.”

Jamaal is a very honest lad and a good young captain of Newcastle United, which is a massive responsibility for a 23 year-old with currently only limited experience but huge potential.

Newcastle top scorer Dwight Gayle has confirmed he aims to play a part in the club’s final two games in what he says has been a “fantastic” season.

The 26-year-old striker, who joined the Magpies from Crystal Palace last summer, has suffered with a recurring hamstring injury which has limited his playing time in the second half of the season.

However Gayle, who has scored 22 league goals for Newcastle this season, has said he hopes to return to first team action in their games against Cardiff and Barnsley, before the Magpies depart the Championship for the top flight.

When asked whether he would play any part before the end of the season, he told the Chronicle: “I am trying to get back and be fit for the last game of the season.

“I’d love to be involved because I want to be out there playing as much time as I can.”

With his 22 goals in 31 appearances, which equate to an impressive goal every 97 minutes on the pitch, Gayle has become the first Newcastle striker to score over 20 goals in a season since Magpies legend Alan Shearer.

However, the former Crystal Palace man admitted the season in the second tier of English football had not been plain sailing for the Tyneside club, but insisted the players aimed to end it in positive fashion.

“There’s been ups and downs, and not so good times,” admitted Gayle to the Chronicle.

“But it all comes together at the end of the season.

“To finally achieve it (promotion) is fantastic and all the boys are absolutely buzzing about it.

“We are looking to finish the season on a high.”

During Gayle’s absence, both Aleksandar Mitrovic and Daryl Murphy have stepped into the void left by the 26-year-old, although neither have managed to hit the same goal scoring heights.

In other Newcastle news, captain Jamaal Lascelles says it is a case of ‘job done’ after earning promotion.

AncientC Possibly not I dont know what he did while Pardew/Carver/McClaren were here but he was (maybe still is) on the board created for McClaren, he picked McClaren and only McClaren to come in, he picked the players to come in (he took enough credit for convincing them to come when it was all going well) and he ignored/over ruled Pardew on players he wanted thats not ‘just a scout’

So Rafa will discuss his future at the club with fat boy at the end of the season. For our sake I hope those talks go well.

On Carr, he has always been Ashley’s eyes and ears at the club IMO, and seem to have held a role above that of a mere scout, a scout would never hold a position on the board of directors for example, neither would he dictate who was coming into the club above the managers head, but as we have been told for the past few years this is what he has been doing.

We had all the reports at the time of who was doing what, (not that I can be bothered to trawl back) but Carr had more control and responsibility over transfers, and it’s true Penfold would do the actual deals, but how much of the honey pot did Carr have at his disposal to get to a deal position?

firebug666 not sure he is Ashley’s eyes and ears at the club i can count on one hand the home game’s he’s attend but i do think he has Ashley ear on transfers to the best of my knowledge he is still a board member !!

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Transfers Summer 2017

Player

Fee

Club

INCOMING

Christian Atsu

£6.2M

Chelsea

Florian Lejeune

£8.8M

Eibar

Jacob Murphy

£10M

Norwich

Javier Manquillo

£4.5M

Atletico Madrid

Mikel Merino

£2.5M Loan – season

Borussia Dortmund

Kenedy

Loan – season – pending

Chelsea

Joselu

£5.0M

Stoke City

Transfer Fees In

£37.0M

OUTGOING

Vurnon Anita

Released

Aston Villa

Sammy Ameobi

Released

Bolton

Haris Vuckic

Released

FC Twente

Lubo Satka

Released

FC DAC 1904

Florian Thauvin

£10.0M

Marseille

Kevin Mbabu

£1.0M

Young Boys

Matz Sels

Loan – season

Anderlecht

Yoan Gouffran

Released

Goztepe

Adam Armstrong

Loan – season

Bolton

Lewis Gibson

£1.0M Up to £5M in add-ons

Everton

Daryl Murphy

£2.0M

Nottingham Forest

Ivan Toney

Loan – season

Wigan Athletic

Transfer Fees Out

£14.0M

Net Spend

£23M

Preseason Friendlies 2017

Club

Location

Date

Hearts Won 2-1

Tynecastle

Friday 14th July 7:45pm

Preston Drew 1-1

Deepdale

Saturday 22nd July 3:00pm

Bradford Won 4-0

Valley Parade

Wednesday 26th July 7:30pm

Mainz 05 Lost 2-1

Opel Arena, Mainz

Saturday 29th July 4:00 pm local time

Wolfsburg Won 3-1

AOK Stadium, Wolfsburg

Wednesday 2nd August 4:00pm local time

Hellas Verona Wopn 2-0

St. James’ Park

Sunday 6th August 3:00pm

football club

It’s the noise, the passion, the feeling of belonging, the pride in your city. It’s a small boy clambering up stadium steps for the very first time, gripping his father’s hand, gawping at that hallowed stretch of turf beneath him and, without being able to do a thing about it, falling in love.